Anti-surge assembly



L. D. ORSER ANTI-SURGE ASSEMBLY Sept. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJune 19, 1956 LET AVE rial- Lawrezze D. Onser z: L 15 Sept. 16, 1958 L.D. oRsER 2,852,033

ANTI-SURGE ASSEMBLY Filed June 19, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Lawrence Z1011561" United States Patent AN TI-SURGE ASSEMBLY Lawrence D. Orser,Cedar Fails, Iowa, assignor to Ihamberlain Corporation,.Waterioo, Iowa,a corporation of Iowa Application June 19, 1956, Serial No. 592,296

11 Claims. or. 137-101;

This invention relates to an anti-surge assembly, and more particularlyto an anti-surge assembly readily connectable in a pipe line throughwhich a fluid is forced for the purpose of eliminating surging andpulsation, the as sembly being highly desirable for use in connectionwith liquid spraying apparatus, although the invention will obviouslyhave other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled in theart.

In the past, anti-surge assemblies have been developed, and in mostinstances the casing of the anti-surge device has been filled with air.These devices have proven objectionable in that they becomeliquid-logged by virtue of the fact that the air escapes gradually alongwith the liquid entering and leaving the anti-surge compartment orcasing, and eventually the entire casing becomes filled with liquidrather than air and all anti-surge properties of the device have beeneliminated. In other cases various means have been employed in anendeavor to not only eliminate surge characteristics of fluid beingforced through a pipe line, but also to eliminate the effect ofpulsations by virtue of a pump. Thi was particularly true when a singlecylinder pump is utilized, whereupon surging and pulsation is perhaps atits highest. These formerly known devices, however, were expensive inconstruction, difficult to install in the respective pipe lines, andpossessed relatively short lives. In most instances, also, if theyeffectively took care of pulsations, they did not take care of surges,and if they took care of surges to a reasonable extent, pulsations werestill effective.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instantinvention to provide an anti-surge assembly which is simple inconstruction, readily and easily mounted in a pipe line, and whicheffectively eliminates not only the adverse effects of surging, but alsothe effects of pump pulsations.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an antisurge assemblyhighly desirable for eliminating the adverse efiects of pulsations evenfrom a one cylinder pumping unit.

A. further object of the invention resides in the provision of ananti-surging device which does not depend upon an air chamber, but inwhich the chamber is filled with an elastomer, exceptionally long lived,and which need not be replaced until after. many hours of operation, farbeyond the time in which the customary 'air chamber becomesfluid-logged.

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the provision of ananti-surge assembly readily connectable in a pipe line through whichfluid is forced'under pressure, and which assembiy incorporatesby-passing means substantially instantly operable so that'whenunexpected surges occur by-passing is immediately effective'toneutralize the adverse surge condition.

It is a further feature of the invention to provide an anti-surgeassembly embodying by-pass means for almost instantly by-passing fluidupon a surge beyond a predetermined amount, and which by-pass means areadjustable relatively to the sur e controlling means so as to provide aselective adjustment of the pressure necessary to properly actuate theby-pass means.

Still a further feature of the instant invention resides in theprovision of an anti-surge assembly including a casing having a flowpassage therethrough partially defined by a flexible diaphragm, with anelastomer or elastomeric means disposed between thediaphragm and theadjacent casing wall, the elastomeric means yieldingly re-' sisting amovement of the diaphragm in a direction to expand the size of the flowpassage, so that the effect of surges and pulsations are absorbed by thediaphragm and elastomeric means.

Still a further object of the instant invention resides in the provisionof an anti-surge assembly of the character just above mentioned in thepreceding paragraph with which by-pass means are associated, so thatupon a surge of predetermined pressure, liquid is by-passed from theflow passage and the adverse effects of the surge are instantaneouslyeliminated.

Still another feature of the instant invention resides in the provisionof an anti-surge device embodying a casing having a flow passagetherethrough which is partially defined by opposed diaphragms offlexible material, which diaphragms may, if so desired, be backed withelastomeric means yieldingly resisting movement of the diaphragm in adirection to enlarge the flow passage,

whereby the movements of the diaphragms effectively eliminate theadverse effect of pulsations in the fluid line with which the casing isassociated.

Still another feature of the invention resides in the provision of ananti-surge assembly of the character described in the precedingparagraph, wherein one of the diaphragms is connected to by-passactuating means so that a surge of predetermined pressure will result ina by-passing of fluid around the passage through the casing and thus theadverse effect of the surge-is eliminated almost instantly.

While some of the more salient features, characteristics and advantagesof the instant invention have been above pointed out, others will becomeapparent from the following disclosures, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an anti-surgeassembly shown connected in operative relationship in a forced fluidsystem;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary part vertical sectional, part elevationalview, enlarged, illustrating more particularly the anti-surge assemblyitself of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view, enlarged, of the structureshown in Fig. 2; and

Figure 4- is a fragmentary part vertical sectional, part elevationalview, of an anti-surge assembly of somewhat different construction.

As shown on the drawings:

In that illustrated embodiment of the instant invention seen in Figs. 1to 3 inclusive, there is shown an antisurge assembly operativelyconnected to a pipe line for a liquid spraying apparatus. The entirestructure includes a tank 1 which may be considered a source for asupply of spraying'liquid 2. A pipe line 3 enters into the tank 1 andliquid is forced from the tank through the pipe line by means of a pumpdiagrammatically indicated at 4. Connected Within the pipe line 3, whichultimately reaches a spraying nozzle or the equivalent 5, is a casing 6which preferably is formed in two co-mplemental half portions which aresecured together by means of a series of bolts 7 or in an equivalentmanner.

The casing 6 is so designed as to providea flow chamber or passage 8therein, preferably in alignment with the pipe line 3, so that liquidentering the passage 8 at one side flows out of the passage 8 at theopposite side of the asing. Defining at least apart of the, flow passage3 or chamber within the casing is a diaphragm 9 of flexible or resilientmaterial such as synthetic rubber. As illustrated, the diaphragm 9 maybe held in position by the bolts 7 between the two halves of the casing,and obviously this diaphragm itself will function'as a suitable gasketfor the two casing sections.

Preferably between the dry side of the'diaphragm 9 and the casing Wallis a mass of elastomer or elastomeric means 10. This mass is preferablya closed cell gas expanded elastomer which is characterized by havingexcellent restorative powers along with being very highly resilient. Theelastomer may be satisfactorily composed of sponge rubber; syntheticrubber, a suitable plastic sponge-like substance, and one satisfactoryexample of the elastomer is a product now known to the trade as Hycarsponge. It may be desirable for the elastomeric means to have a skinover the outer surface thereof which is impervious to either gas orliquid, so that the elastomer cannot act as a sponge and absorb either agas or liquid, although the diaphragm 9 itself may be effective toprevent contact of either liquid or gas with the elastomer iii. Theelastomeric means present a yielding resistance to movement of thediaphragm in a direction tending to enlarge the size of the fluidpassage or chamber 3. In other words, as seen in Fig. 2, the elastomericmeans yieldably resist movement of the diaphragm toward the upper casingwall.

With the instant assembly, by-passing means are also preferablyprovided. In the illustrated instance, the bypassing means are supportedby the aforesaid casing 6 by way of a U-shaped bracket 11, disposed ininverted position, and with its legs firmly secured such as by spotwelding, brazing, or the like, to the upper section of the casing.Through the yoke or upper portion of the bracket 11 a threaded stud bolt12 is positioned, with the upper end thereof fixedly connected to a wingnut 13 or the like. A conventional nut 14 is secured to the underside ofthe yoke, so that when the wing nut is turned, both it and the bolt 12move relatively to the bracket and nut 14.

The lower end of the bolt 12 is engaged with a bypass fitting 15 havinga flow passage 16 therein. As seen best in Fig. 2, a pipe 17 extendsthrough the wall of the fitting to communicate with the flow passage 16,and

this pipe 17 may be connected to a flexible tube such as a rubber orsynthetic rubber hose 18 which is in turn connected by way of a T 19 tothe pipe line 3 in advance or on the upstream side of the casing 6. Thefitting 15 is bored from the passage 16 clear to the end thereof, and

in a portion of this bore a sleeve 20 is inserted which is made arcuateat the top to accommodate a check valve in the form of a ball 21.Another pipe 22 extends through the fitting and communicates with theinterior of the sleeve 20, and this pipe 22 has its other end connectedto a flexible tubing or the equivalent 23 which leads bac to the sourceof fluid or tank 1. Consequently, when the ball 21 is elevated fluid maybe by-passcd through the tube 18 and pipe 17, the passage 16, and thepipe 22 and tube 23 back to the source of supply.

In order to actuate the ball and effect such by-passing of fiuid upon asurge of predetermined pressure, a valve actuating rod 24 extendsthrough the fitting 15 and into the sleeve 20 beneath the ball 21. Thisvalve actuating rod has its lower end connected to a relatively largeplate 25 which is disposed between the elastomer 19 and the diaphragm 9.Consequently, when sufficient pressure is urged upon the diaphragm tocompress the elastomer a predetermined extent,'the rod 24 is movedupwardly unseating the ball 21, and allowing the bypassing of fluid.This occurs almost instantaneously with a predetermined pressure surgein the chamber or passage 8, and consequently the adverse effects ofsuch surge are eliminated from the pipe line 3 on the opposite side ofthe casing 6 from the pump.

Turning the thumb nut 13 results in moving the entire by-pass fitting 15relatively to the rod 24, and in that manner a selective variation maybe made insofar as the pressure required to actuate the bypass valve isconcerned, so that the amount of pressure may be altered at will beforeby-passing is effected.

Now in operation, the instant invention as above described is extremelysimple and effective. It is, of course, desirable to have a constantspray from the spray nozzle 5 under a predetermined and substantiallyconstant pressure. With the pump 4 in operation, fluid is pumped 'to thespray nozzle 5 and this fluid passes through the chamber or passage 8 inthe casing 6. In the event the pump is a single cylinder pump, or a pumpof some other character causing pulsations, those pulsations will beabsorbed by the diaphragm and elastomer 10, and it is not necessary thatthe pulsations be of sufficient amount to actuate the check valve 21.However, when a surge occurs or a building up of pressure beyond apredetermined amount, the rod 24 Will be elevated removing the ball 21from its seat and permitting the by-passing of fluid almostinstantaneously with the surge in pressure. Accordingly, the pressure atthe nozzle 5 will remain substantially constant. The elastomericmaterial 10 is long lived, highly resilient, and has remarkablerestorative powers so that by-passing of fluid, absorption ofpulsations, and the like, are automatically compensated for almostimmediately with the increase in pressure at any interval. Further, theentire structure is extremely economical to manufacture, easy toinstall, and highly economical to use when the beneficial effectsthereof are considered.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a slightly different construction of the instantinvention which may be more desirable for the absorption of pulsations.In this instance, the same general pipe line apparatus is disclosed, butthe anti-surge element itself comprises a casing 6a made in two sectionswith an annular spacer 26 disposed between those sections and the casingsections are held together by means of an annular series of bolts 27 orthe equivalent, which bolts extend through the spacer ring 26. In thisinstance, there is a passage 8a through the casing (it: connected withinthe pipe line 3, and on one side this passage is partially defined bymeans of a diaphragm 9 backed with.

an elastomer 10, as above described. The valve actuating rod 24 andplate 25 are associated with the diaphragm 9 and elastomer 10 as abovedescribed.

- In this instance, however, there is another diaphragm 28 opposed tothe diaphragm 9, and also partially defining the opposite side of thepassage 8a. Thisdiaphragm u the elastomer backing means are suflicientto compensate for such pulsations without moving the rod 24 any materialextent. However, should there be a sudden increase in pressure such as asurge of predetermined amount, the control rod 24 will be elevatedsulficiently to unseat the ball check valve 21 and allow by-passing,notwithstanding the fact that some of the surge will be absorbed by thediaphragm 28 and elastomer 29.

With the exception of its greater ability to absorb pulsations withoutby-passing, the structure shown in Fig. 4 functions in the same generalmanner as above described in connection with the structure shown inFigs. 1 to 3 inclusive.

As indicated in Fig. 4, a pressure gauge 30 may be mounted in the pipeline 3 preferably onthe downstream side of the casing 6 or 6a as thecase may be.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effectedwithout departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the presentinvention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly, a casing for connectionin a pipe line to which liquid is forcibly pumped, said casing dividedinto two compartments by flexible diaphragms, one of said compartmentshaving an inlet and outlet opening for liquid and forming a liquidpassageway therethrough, an elastomer in the other of said compartmentsand completely filling said compartment between the diaphragm and thewall of the casing, said elastomer being a one-piece resilient member, aby-pass means for connection to said pipe line on the upstream side ofsaid casing and to the liquid source, and a connection between saiddiaphragm and said bypass means to actuate the latter by the former upona pressure surge of liquid, whereby actuation of said by pass meanseliminates surging of the liquid and the resiliency of said elastomereliminates pulsating of the liquid before leaving the liquid passageway.

2. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly, a casing for connectionin a pipe line to which liquid is forcibly pumped, said casing dividedinto two compartments by a flexible diaphragm, one of said compartmentshaving an inletand outlet opening for liquid and forming a liquidpassageway therethrough, an elastomer in the other of said compartmentsand completely filling said compartment with the diaphragm and the wallsof the casing, said elastomer being a resilient one-piece member, abypass fitting supported on said casing and having a liquid passagetherein, a check valve controlling flow through the by-pass passage, andan actuating element extending through an opening in said elastomer andbetween said diaphragm and said check valve whereby movement of thediaphragm on a pressure surge of liquid actuates said check valve;whereby actuation of said check valve eliminates surging of the liquidand the resiliency of said elastomer eliminates pulsating of the liquidbefore leaving the liquid passageway.

3. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly, a casing for connectionin a pipe line through which liquid is forcibly pumped, said casingdivided into two compartments by a flexible diaphragm, one of saidcompartments having an inlet and outlet opening for liquid and forming aliquid passageway therethrough, an elastomer in the other of saidcompartments and completely filling said compartment between thediaphragm and the wall of the casing, said elastomer being a resilientone-piece member having a central bore extending between the upper andlower surfaces thereof, a by-pass fitting supported on the exterior ofsaid casing and having a liquid passage therein, a check valvecontrolling flow of liquid through the by-pass' passage, an actuatingrod extending through said bore in said elastomer and between saiddiaphragm and said check valve whereby movement of the diaphragm on apressure surge of the liquid in the liquid passageway actuates saidcheck valve, and whereby actuation of said check valve eliminatessurging of liquid and the resiliency of said elastomer eliminatespulsating of the liquid before leaving the liquid passageway.

4. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly for a pipe line, ahollow casing divided into three compartments by a pair of parallelflexible diaphragms spaced apart and extending transversely of saidcasing, the intermediate compartment having inlet and outlet openingsfor liquid and forming a liquid passageway therethrough, a one-pieceelastomer arranged in the second of said compartments, a one-pieceelastomer with a central bore therein arranged in the third of saidcompartments, said elastcrners being resilient and each filling theentire space in each of said compartments between the diaphragm.adjacent thereto and the walls of said casing, a by-pass fittingsupported upon the exterior of said casing adjacent the wall formingpart of said third compartment, said bypass fitting having a liquidpassage therein, a check valve controlling flow of liquid through theby-pass passage, an actuating rod extending through said bore in saidelastomer in said third compartment and between said diaphragm and saidcheck valve whereby movement of the diaphragm adjacent said actuatingrod due'to a pressure surge of the liquid in the liquid passagewayactuates said check valve, and whereby actuation of said check valveallows the liquid toflow through the by-pass passage eliminating surgingof liquid and the resiliency of both of said elastomers eliminatespulsating of the liquid in the liquid passageway between the diaphragmsbefore the liquid leaves the liquid passageway.

5. in anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly for a pipe line, a casinghaving a fluid passage therethrough, a fluid inlet and an outlet onopposite sides of said casing, a pair of vertically spaced flexiblediaphragms transversely assembled in said casing defining therebetween apart of said fluid passage, said diaphragms responsive to pressuresurges of liquid flowing through said passage, a preformed elastomerassembled between each of said diaphragms and the wall of the casingadjacent thereto, said elastomers being resilient and completely fillingthe space between the dry side of the diaphragms and the casing walls, aby-pass controlling means assembled vertically and centrally abovesaidcasing and secured thereto, said by-pass means havi ng a valvetherein controlling flow of fluid through said by-pass', a control rod'extending from the dry side of the upperdiaphragm through the elastomerand exterior casing wall above said diaphragm and into said fitting toactuate said valve, said control rod movable with said upper diaphragmand the yielding of the elastomer adjacent thereto, whereby actuation ofsaid by-pass control means eliminates surging of fluid and the twoelastomers eliminate pulsations of the liquid before leaving the liquidpassageway.

6. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating assembly for a pipe line, acasing having a fluid passage therethrough, a fluid inlet and an outleton opposite sides of said casing, a pair of vertically spaced flexiblediaphragms transversely assembled in said casing defining therebetween apart of said fluid passage, said diaphragms responsive to pressuresurges of fluid flowingth'rough said passage, a preformed elastomerassembled between each of said diaphragms and the wall of said casingadjacent thereto, said elastomers being resilent" and completely fillingthe space between the drysides of the diaphragr ns and the casing walls,a by-pass controlling means assembled vertically and centrally abovesaid casing and secured thereto, said by-pass means having a valvetherein controlling flow of fluid through said by-pass, a control rodextending from the dry side of the upper diaphragm through the elastomerand exterior casing wall above said diaphragm and into said fitting toactuate said valve, said control rod movable with said upper diaphragmand the yielding of the elastomer adjacent thereto, and

, adjustable means for moving said by-pass means relative to saidcentral rod to selectively'vary the pressure necessary to actuate saidvalve, whereby said by-pass means eliminates surging of the liquid andthe resilient elastomers on the dry sides of each diaphragm resistingmovement thereof in a direction toward enlargement of said passage.

7. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating, assembly for a pipe line, acasing having a fluid passage therethrough, a flexible diaphragmdefining a part of said passage and responsive to pressure surges in thefluid flowing through said passage, a by-pass fitting supported on saidcasing exteriorly thereof, said fitting having a by-pass therein, avalve controlling flow through said by-pass, a control rod extendingfrom the dry side of said diaphragm through said casing and into saidfitting to actuate said valve to prevent surging of the fluid flowingthrough said fluid passage, and a preformed one-piece elastomercompletely filling the cavity between the dry side of said diaphragm andthe casing wall to yieldingly resist valve actuating movement of saiddiaphragm and to prevent pulsating of the fluid flowing through saidfluid passageway.

8. In liquid spraying apparatus, a source of liquid, a pipe line fromsaid source, a pump in said line, a casing in said line having a flowpassage therethrough, a pair of vertically opposed flexible diaphragmsin said casing and defining therebetween a part of said flow passage,the upper diaphragm defining the bottom wall of an upper cavity in saidcasing, the lower diaphragm defining the upper wall of a lower cavity insaid casing, a preformed elastomeric means filling the entire cavity onthe dry side of each diaphragm and yieldingly resisting movement of thediaphragm in a direction to enlarge said flow passage, a by-pass fittingconnected to said source and to said pipe line between the pump and saidcasing, valve means controlling flow through said fitting, and a controlrod for said valve means leading from the upper diaphragm to saidfitting through the elastomer means in the upper cavity for response tothe movement of said upper diaphragm, whereby said by-pass eliminatessurging and said two elastomeric means yieldingly resisting diaphragmmovements and tending to eliminate pulsations of the fluid passingthrough said flow passage.

9. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating device comprising a hollow casingformed in three sections, said sections embodying a mid-section and awall section assembled in opposite sides thereof, a flexible diaphragmdisposed between each of said wall sections and said mid-sections, meansfor securing the three sections and said diaphragms together, aone-piece resilient elastomer disposed within each wall section andfilling the entire area thereof, each of said resilient elastomers incontact with one of said diaphragms, means for connecting themid-section in a pipe line through which liquid is forcibly pumped, abypass fitting supported on the exterior of one of said wall sectionsand having a liquid passage therein, a check valve controlling the flowthrough the by-pass passage, and a controlling rod actuated by one ofsaid diaphragms when actuated by liquid passing through saidmid-section, said resilient elastomers yieldingly, resisting movement ofsaid rod and the diaphragms by pressure surges of liquid in saidmid-section, whereby actuation of said check valve permits lay-passingof liquid and eliminates surging of the liquid while the elastomerseliminate pulsating of the liquid before said liquid leaves saidmid-section.

10. In an anti-surge and anti-pulsating device for spraying apparatus, asource of liquid, a pipe line from the source, a pump in the line, ahollow casing in said line, a casing formed in a plurality of sections,said sections including a mid-section embodying a substantially verticalwall closed by an upper and lower wall formed of flexible diaphragmsassembled therewith, means for connecting said mid-section in said pipeline through which liquid is forcibly pumped, a top pan shaped sectionsecured above and to said mid-section, a bottom pan shaped sectionsecured below and to said mid-section, each of said pan sections filledwith a flexible preformed pan shaped elastomer, a by-passfitting on theexterior surface of said top section, and a by-pass fitting connected tosaid source of the liquid and to said pipeline between the pump and saidcasing, valve means controlling flow of liquid through said by-passfitting, a'control rod for actuating said valve extending through saidupper section and the elastomer therein and contacting and movable withsaid diaphragm forming the upper wall of said mid-section, both of saidelastomers resisting movement of said diaphragms by pressure surges ofthe liquid passing through said mid-sections, and adjustable means formoving said fitting relative to said control rod to selectively vary thepressure necessary to actuate said valve means; whereby said by-passfitting and said elastomers in each of the top and bottom sections willprevent surging and pulsations of the liquid leaving the mid-section.

11. In a liquid spraying apparatus, a source of liquid, a pipe line fromsaid source, a pump in said line, a hollow casing in said line having aflow passage therethrough, said casing consisting of three parts, twoparts substantially pan shaped and a third part formed with verticalside walls, each of said pan shaped parts formed with a peripheralflange, said third part formed with a peripheral flange at each endthereof, a flexible diaphragm disposed between each of said pan shapedparts and said third part and each diaphragm having its peripheralflange clamped between the peripheral flanges of said parts, meanspassing through the flanges to secure the diaphragms and parts together,a pan shaped elastomer disposed in each of the pan shaped parts andadapted to till the space therein and be in contact with one of saiddiaphragrns, a by-pass fitting mounted upon the external surface of oneof said pan shaped parts and connected by flexible tubes to said sourceof liquid and to said pipe line between the pump andsaid third part ofsaid casing, valve means controlling flow of liquid through said by-passfitting, a control rod for actuating said valve extending through saidpan shaped partsupporting said by-pass fitting and through the elastomerin said part and said rod contacting and movable with the diaphragmassociated with said part, both of said elastomers resisting movement ofsaid diaphragrns by pressure surges of the liquid passing through saidthird part; whereby said by-pass fitting and said elastomers in the dryparts will prevent surging and pulsating ofthe liquid leaving the wetthird part of the hollow casing.

Referencesi C ited in the flle ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS594,039 Serve Nov. 23, 1897 1,142,289 Wadsworth June 8, 19 15 FOREIGNPATENTS 104,257 I Australia June 15, 1938 435,699 Great Britain Sept.26, 1935

